Comments on: Carytown New Year’s Eve – Is it worth it?

By: Sam

Sam — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:16:45 +0000

I’m pretty sure Carytown didn’t make a dime…

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:55:37 +0000

A waste of time and money. We ate dinner at Caliente and realized that was about as close as we could park to Carytown if we wanted to go. Then when I realized that we could only drink with the limited approved beer trucks we said forget it. Vail, Colorado holds weekly street parties, alcohol allowed, with live music and it goes amazingly well. You’d be surprised how many people respect it more when you give the public some trust.

By: Paul Hammond

Paul Hammond — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:01:06 +0000

coming down to forget about your problems, about having optimism + hope for the future – that is New Years to me

Me too. It’s hard for me to imagine people complaining about spending a couple bucks or more to support this.

Last year the GRTC did support this in a way by providing free bus fare on NYE. Only problem was there were no busses available for the ride home.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:10:07 +0000

The city’s lack of support in Carytown could be a play to bring it down to Broad Street where it would really be a city event.

Watch to see if Venture Richmond, Phillip Morris, and Ukrop etc., join forces to take it downtown. As scary as that sounds the truth is the event was too large last year – btw there is no way physically it could have been bigger than last years because of the emergency lane, dont believe the hype – and it has to move some place that is symbolic of the center of Richmond before the city will pay $$$. The politics were there last year and the next few months will determine what happens to it.

Too bad in all the fuss and grandstanding the original reason for having the event to me – to raise money for the Harvey Family Foundation + the Byrd Foundation – were completely forgotten. That is why it felt so good the first year because we were doing it for a good reason.

Now dollar signs are in everyone’s eyes, not one article mentioned coming down to forget about your problems, about having optimism + hope for the future – that is New Years to me.

By: Kat

Kat — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:48:07 +0000

It was better this year then last year. I live on Parkwood and last year it was a huge mess (in my opinion.) Imagine living right outside of a sports stadium when the game lets out. People were all over my car. Someone too ill to walk camped out on my front porch and wouldn’t/couldn’t move. His friends had to call 911 and I had the paramedics on my porch.
I like living in Carytown and I understand that part of that is being tolerant of times when there are streets blocked off and no parking available within a mile of my house, etc.but when it includes people carrying on at the top of their lungs and cussing and driving recklessly for hours after the event. When it is scary and you have to worry about your home and car, that is just too much.
This year seemed better. Not so much craziness when the event was over, probably due to the extra security. I am relieved about that and feel better about the event this year.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:26:16 +0000

I think there is something in it for everyone…dinner out and in by 10, dinner in and out for the countdown, or hard core partying through the evening… and folks should send legitimate comments and positive criticism to the CMA via their website about how to make it better instead of ripping it apart publically. I would love to see the event continue and I think as CMA gets more experience with the event, it will improve.

By: Chloe

Chloe — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:15:38 +0000

Not anymore.

By: Johnny Hugel

Johnny Hugel — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:06:59 +0000

I only had a minor interest in going from the begining, but the lack of promotion for the activities this year ensured that I wouldn’t.

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:06:42 +0000

My favorite quote from the RTD…

“They ruined New Year’s Eve in Richmond.”

-head of promotions @ NY Deli